The Rehab Playbook: Treating Ice Hockey’s Most Common Injuries

01/24/25 • 30 min

Discover the unique demands of ice hockey and the physical therapy strategies to address its most common injuries. This episode explores prevention, rehabilitation, and return-to-play protocols tailored to hockey athletes.
Explore how physical therapists manage injuries specific to ice hockey, from concussions to knee and shoulder issues. Learn about the latest rehabilitation strategies and prevention tools to keep players at their best.
Main source: PHYSICAL THERAPY MANAGEMENT OF ICE HOCKEY ATHLETES: FROM THE RINK TO THE CLINIC AND BACK
Christopher R. Wolfinger, Todd E. Davenport
Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016 Jun; 11(3): 482–495.
PMCID: PMC4886814

Previous Episode

Butterfly Saves: On-Ice vs. Off-Ice Dynamics

Explore the science behind the butterfly stance in ice hockey goalkeeping. This episode compares on-ice and off-ice torso kinematics, revealing how gear and environment impact performance and energy expenditure.
Discover the biomechanics of ice hockey goaltending. Learn how the butterfly save differs on and off the ice, with insights into torso movement, energy use, and training adaptations.
Main source: Float like a Butterfly: Comparison between Off and On-Ice Torso Kinematics during the Butterfly Stance in Ice Hockey Goalkeepers
Stuart A Evans, Rodrigo Bini, Gregory Davis, James Lee
Sensors (Basel) 2022 Oct; 22(19): 7320. Published online 2022 Sep 27. doi: 10.3390/s22197320
PMCID: PMC9572803

Next Episode

Inside the Helmets: Exploring Head Impact Risks for Female Players

This episode uncovers the frequency and severity of head impacts in female youth ice hockey players. Learn how factors like age, BMI, and playing position influence risks and how this compares to their male counterparts.
Explore groundbreaking research on head impacts in female youth hockey. We discuss how forward positions, tournament play, and BMI affect impact severity, offering insights into player safety and equipment considerations.
Main source: Player and Game Characteristics and Head Impacts in Female Youth Ice Hockey Players
Nick Reed, Tim Taha, Richard Greenwald, Michelle Keightley
J Athl Train. 2017 Aug; 52(8): 771–775. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-52.5.04
PMCID: PMC5561778